What is it about snow that makes one nostalgic? This weather always brings back memories of playing in the snow as a kid. I grew up in N.E. Oklahoma where snow was a little more common than it is here - some years we got none but most winters you could count on 2 or 3 good snowstorms and school rarely closed because of it. I was thinking today about the fine art of "Bumper Jumping" a passtime and competition that is probably common to boys wherever snowfall is found - but we thought we invented it. Our version went like this. As school let out a bunch of us 7th and 8th grade boys would lurk around out front where the moms picked up their students. As soon a kid jumped in a car and closed the door, whichever one of us was "next" would hunker down out of sight and scramble up to the back of the car. You would squat down and hook you fingers under the bumper and as the car took off you would "ski" along behind on the soles of your shoes. The idea was to see how far you could go before the car got going so fast you lost your nerve and let go. Well, some Mom complained and the Vice Principal - the terrifying Mr Jones - made an announcement that anyone caught Bumper Jumping would be drawn and quartered or some such. That put end to it - until the next snowfall. I went first that day (my last run was close to a world record and I had been thinking alot about my technique) I latched on to a Ford Country Squire Station Wagon (with the fake wood paneling!) and off I went. It was a perfect ride - I didn't let go till' the car was about to pull out onto a major street several blocks away. I was jubilant! I ran back to the school expecting to be hoisted like a hero onto the shoulders of my compadres but they had all scattered. In fact the only person around was Mr Jones - standing up on the steps stretching like Hank Aaron in the batters circle only instead of a bat he was swinging his paddle. Just a look at this paddle struck fear into the heart of any misbehaving school boy. He had the paddle custom made to his specifications by the woodshop teacher and it's nickname was "Fat Man" (after the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima) In fact playground rumor had it that Mr Jones had been fired from his last school because he had put a kid in the hospital with one blow from that mighty weapon. "Parker!" he said. "You know the drill, 3 days suspension or 3 swats - what's it going to be?" I briefly considered my options but the protocol of the day demanded taking the swats. Choosing suspension was considered "girly" and you would wear the scarlet "P" for enternity. I took my licks that day and remember how Mr Jones - just before delivering the 3rd and final blow - leaned down and whispered "So, was it worth it Mr Parker?" At a the time I answered with a shaky "No Sir" but now that I think back on it - heck yeah it was worth it!
-
-
awesome -
Wounds Heal, Chicks dig scars, and stories last forever!Comment
-
Good One...Comment
-
Great story.Comment
-
Great story Mr. Parker. Good read, brings back memories of life in a small town for me.
Comment
-
So..............you won!
Comment
-
Allsome!!!
If I was not so old and out of shape I might get out there and try to beat your record myself.. Sounds like fun!!Comment
-
Great story.Comment
-
How far was your ride?Comment
-
-
Great story
Comment
-
It seemed like a mile at the time - probably more like 200 yardsOriginally posted by Oneway View Post
Comment
-
Even with my maximum one year lick total of 15 during my 5th grade year being a badge I wore honorably for some time, I don't think any of my lick producing stories were quite this cool.
Very nice, Mr. Parker!Comment
-
Classic ! The scarlet P, huh?
Comment
Comment